Landlocked Blues

By: DamagedSpoon


Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I promise. :) I barely own the dirt stuck to my shoes. :)

If you walk away, I'll walk away
First tell me which road you will take
I don't want to risk our paths crossing some day
So you walk that way, I'll walk this way

And the future hangs over our heads
And it moves with each current event
Until it falls all around like a cold steady rain
Just stay in when it's looking this way

-Bright Eyes, "Landlocked Blues"


Ginny sighed as she rested her arms against the cold stone ledge of the window in the Astronomy Tower. She was finally utterly alone. Having so many older brothers made that very difficult at home, but the first night back at Hogwarts always gave her the solitude that she was looking for. The train ride and the full bellies that everyone else now sported assured her that there was very little chance for her to be interrupted. She was almost lost in the beautiful night sky when she heard the door open behind her. Hoping the person would see the Tower was occupied and just leave, she didn't bother to turn around.

"So, the littlest Weasel thinks that sitting alone in the Astronomy Tower in the middle of the night is a good idea."

She turned her head slightly and saw the gleam of Draco Malfoy's silvery blonde hair and he made his way to stand beside her, leaning his side against the stone wall and crossing his arms over his chest. He turned his head to gaze out of the window she was occupying herself with.

"I just like to be alone. I thought perhaps whoever was coming in would get the hint," Ginny said, sighing. She leaned down and picked up her bag with one hand and turned to Malfoy.

"Look, I'm too tired to fight tonight. Could you get your comments in about me and my family later?"

He turned his head to look at her, a smirk gracing his features. If she hadn't known any better, she would have entertained the notion of how attractive his defined jaw line was, or how, with the moonlight shining down onto his hair and profile, he looked like a fallen angel. But Ginny did know better, so when those thoughts entered her mind, she pushed them back out without a moment's hesitance.

"Weaslette, no one said anything about insulting your family. In fact, I've only said one comment since I've come in, and if I recall correctly, it wasn't insulting," Draco said before turning back to the night sky.

Ginny was slightly taken aback.

"B-but you always make fun of my family, or something to that extent. How poor I am, or how red my brother's hair is."

Malfoy chuckled, which certainly startled Ginny. She took an involuntary step back, unsure as to handle this new Malfoy personality. He turned his whole body to her so that his back rested against the wall.

"If you haven't noticed, you do not have the same atrocious red hair that your brother sports like a banner. Yours is more subdued with brown, almost an auburn color. After a while, jokes about people's monetary status become old and repetitive. And, some people can change. Things happen that cause people to realize that the person that they have become is not the person that they want to be for the rest of their lives. The Golden Trio may not have risen above school rivalries and old grudges, but I most certainly have." Draco turned back to the window before continuing softly.

"I have way too much to think about and worry about to keep occupied for a while. I don't need to add more on top of that."

Ginny felt her heart melt against the previously malicious young man that was standing in front of her. A part of her felt that she should still be wary, since this was still the young man that had relentlessly taunted her family and friends for years, but another part of her told her that what he was saying was undeniably true. If he wanted to change, to become a better person, who was she to tell him no?

Ginny stepped back up to her spot beside Draco, resuming her same position looking up at the night sky, and they sat in amiable silence for a long time until Draco decided to speak.

"You don't trust me."

Ginny shook her head, continuing to stare at the stars.

"Then why stay here?"

Ginny dropped her gaze, looking down on the grounds below. Everything seemed so calm. She looked up at the pale boy who was now gazing down on her with an unreadable expression.

"Because everyone deserves a second chance. Because if you want to change, you probably still need friends, and I've never been one to turn down a friend, even if it was only a temporary friendship. And because what you said is true. People do change, and people do grow up."

Draco was very quiet for a long while, simply staring at Ginny's face. The look on his face was almost like he was trying to come to a decision about something. He finally just looked up at the sky again. She was about to do the same when he spoke.

"You were in my dreams this summer, and I don't know why."

She looked up at him, but he was steadfastly refusing to meet her gaze.

"What happened in these dreams?" Ginny was caught between wanting to know and wanting to not know.

"I don't remember them all specifically," he admitted, looking down at his hands, which were now resting on the ledge, "I just remember that in all of them I had to save you. It was so important that I had to save you. I'd wake up in cold sweats right before I could finish saving you. The house elves would sometimes be in my room when I awoke, trying to wake me up. They had heard me screaming all throughout the house."

Ginny was silent for a while before she smiled.

"Well, hopefully those dreams don't become reality. I really don't plan on needing saving any time soon."

"Let's hope not," Draco said solemnly. Pushing away from the wall, he moved to leave the Astronomy Tower. Without turning around, Ginny called out to him as he was opening the door.

"Malfoy?"

He halted in his steps, turning to listen to her, but not facing her completely.

"Yes?"

"Does this mean we're friends? For real?"

"Is that what you want it to mean?"

There was a long pause before she decided on her answer.

"Yes, I'd like that very much."

Draco didn't respond, he just turned back towards the door and walked out, shutting it softly behind him.

'Well, that certainly was different,' Ginny thought, staring up at the sky a few more minutes before deciding that she should head out as well. 'I wonder how this is going to turn out.'


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